Plant and Animal Cell Biology Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing plant and animal cell structures, organelles, and functions based on the lecture material.

Cytoplasm

A jelly-like to liquid substance containing mostly water and stored substances, inside of which all cell organelles are suspended and where many chemical reactions occur.

Cell Membrane

A flexible, double-layered structure surrounding the cell that provides support and acts as a semi-permeable barrier to control what enters and exits.

Semi-permeable Membrane

A membrane that allows certain smaller molecules, such as water and oxygen, to pass through easily while preventing larger molecules, such as proteins, from entering.

Nucleus

A roughly spherical organelle in eukaryotic cells that contains genetic information on chromosomes and controls all cell activities.

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

The material stored on chromosomes in the nucleus of a cell that carries the coded instructions for all cell activities.

Nuclear Membrane

A barrier that separates the nucleus from the rest of the cell.

Nucleolus

A structure located inside the nucleus containing RNA, chromatin, and protein that assembles the cell's ribosomes.

Mitochondria

Organelles known as the power plants of the cell that convert stored energy into usable energy (ATP) via cellular respiration and help maintain calcium ion concentration.

Cellular Respiration

The chemical reaction inside mitochondria represented by $\text{glucose} + \text{oxygen} \rightarrow \text{carbon dioxide} + \text{water} + \text{usable energy}$.

Endoplasmic Reticulum

A three-dimensional network of fluid-filled branching tubes and pockets extending from the nuclear membrane to the cell membrane that transports materials throughout the cell.

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

A portion of the endoplasmic reticulum connected to the nuclear membrane that lacks ribosomes and is crucial for the synthesis and breakdown of lipids.

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

Endoplasmic reticulum studded with ribosomes that processes amino acids to synthesize proteins for specific organelles.

Golgi Bodies

Stacked, curved membrane sacs that collect, process, package, sort, and distribute materials (like proteins and lipids) to be removed or used, and secrete mucus.

Vacuole

A single-layer membrane-enclosed fluid sac that stores nutrients and wastes, removes unwanted substances, and maintains internal fluid pressure (turgor).

Vesicle

A tiny fluid-filled sac formed from membranes that stores and transports materials into, out of, and within the cell.

Ribosomes

Organelles responsible for synthesizing proteins from amino acids and transferring RNA to assist cell growth, repair, and chemical reactions.

Lysosome

A tiny organelle that recycles cell waste, destroys non-functioning cell parts, and fights off foreign viruses or bacteria.

Cilium / Flagella

Small hair-like structures that sense the surrounding environment, power the cell's senses, and control cell growth.

Centrosome

A microtubule organizing center that helps organize the cell's inner structure, consisting of two centrioles covered by a shapeless cloud.

Centriole

Cylindrical-shaped structures made of microtubules that assist in organizing the cell, forming spindle fibers, and aiding cilia and flagella.

Chloroplast

An organelle found only in plant cells containing chlorophyll, which absorbs light energy used to perform photosynthesis.

Cell Wall

A rigid outer layer found only in plant cells that provides protection, structural support, a fixed cell shape, and controls movement into and out of the cell.